What the heck is yoga, anyway?

In a recent post, “Misconceptions About Yoga”, I stated that the most common thing that I saw was that people just assumed yoga was strictly a physical practice. Yoga is so much more than just the poses, or asanas. In order to spread a little bit of knowledge, I'd like to give everyone a quick introduction to the 8 limbs of yoga!

Picture it...Siciliy...1937... just kidding, but let me know if you get that reference, because you are my people!

Picture it…a tree. I'm pretty sure you're picturing a trunk, maybe with a little hole for an owl to live in, limbs, branches, leaves, buds, maybe flowers. Yoga is like a tree (simile time!) and asana, or the physical practice of getting into a pose, is just one of the limbs. Then each limb has branches. So basically saying that yoga is an exercise is like picking up a big stick and calling it an oak tree. I guess you could also think of an octopus, but I like the tree, so that’s what we’re going with.

Yoga literally means “to yoke” or “union”. It is the philosophy that our minds and bodies are not separate, but yoked together. Each part of us must work together to make us wholly healthy. Now, these words I’m about to type below may sound funny to must of us, but they are from a different language. Fiancee is French, and quesadilla is Spanish, but they are useful words, so we use them. Welcome to Sanskrit, my friends!

Limb #1- Yamas

Yamas are restraints, or things to restrain from. They're a set of guidelines for how we interact with others. Think of the “Golden Rule” of treating others how you want to be treated or with respect. These guidelines are to help bring about peace in the world. The branches off of the limb of yamas are: ahimsa (non-harming), satya, (non-lying), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (containing energy), and aparigraha (non-hoarding).

Basically, don't steal, lie, hurt others or nature, take more than you need, or keep things from others. This is the first limb of yoga to learn and apply to your life, because it makes way and readies you for each subsequent limb.

Limb #2- Niyamas

Niyamas are observances. These are a set of guidelines for our relationship with ourselves. They are internal responses in order to be at peace with yourself. Niyamas are self-discipline and involve our attitudes. These do not involve anyone else, or the outside world. These are to help you master yourself and bring peace within your own mind and body. The branches of the niyama limb are: soucha (cleanliness), santosha, (contentment), tapas (zeal for yoga), svadyaya (self-study), and ishvarapranidhana (surrender).

To sum these up; don't allow dirt into your mind, body, or physical space, be content with yourself and what you have, focus on what's the best thing for you, don't take the easy road and give in to base human desires, stop trying to control and allow what is, and help others.

Limb #3- Asanas

Since this is the one most of you are already very familiar with, I won't dive too deep. Asana literally means “pose”. This is the physical embodiment of yoga. It is not only a good, healthy exercise for the body, but it puts us in physically uncomfortable positions which strengthens our willpower and helps us learn to work through discomfort to find the best life for us.

It is important to note that it's not about looking like everyone else. It's about listening to your body, and slowly progressing. Yoga is not a group thing, it's personal. While it's fine to practice in the same vicinity as like -minded people, no one else can complete your journey for you. Only the brave can be truly alone and work on themselves. The weak try to look like, and impress, everyone else.

Limb #4- Pranayama

Pranayama is breathwork. It is the control of breath for various reasons. In many cultures and religions around the world, breath is life. Some believe that life can be extended by exercising control over breath. With each breath, the body goes through a series of events. If we can harness the breath, and not waste breath, we can keep our organs and bodies from wearing out as quickly. Prana literally means “life force” (breath) and yama literally means “restraint” (control).

Control of breath can lead to higher or lower heart rates, depending on the type of breathing. Meaning that breath can either energize or relax us. Focusing on our life force, or breath, can also help to clear our minds and get the grocery list and work schedule out of our heads for 5 minutes. Pranayama lays the foundation for meditation. Mastering breath can allow us to move on to the harder, inner work.

Limb #5- Pratyahara

Pratyahara is the withdraw of the senses. It is the practice of allowing what is to just be. Sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell help us to make sense of and focus on what's happening in the outside world. Turning those senses off helps us to make sense of and focus on what's happening on the inside of us. Most people purposely keep themselves busy so they don't have to deal with themselves. It can be uncomfortable to be alone, still, and not stimulated for us all. Pratyahara is turning away from outward stimuli in order to properly see what is inside of us.

It's like clearing the clutter off of a table. We knew the table was there, but couldn't see it because too many other things were in the way.

Limb #6- Dharana

Dharana is intense focus. It is meditating on one thing intently. The one things can be internal or external. It could be a spot on your wall, an organ or body part, a chakra, or your breath (this is where pranayama makes a cameo). Eyes can be closed for an internal focus or open for an external/physical focus. The intense concentration on one thing, and one thing only, trains the mind to focus, no matter what is happening around it. This practice increases a person's ability to remain calm and focus (always a good thing in high stress situations) and can increase mental strength.

Limb#7- Dhyana

Dyana is a state of meditation. This is the practice of being fully aware of everything around us without letting it affect us. Thoughts, external stimuli, internal grumblings, are all there, but we are not focused on them at all. The mind is empty and focused on nothing. If the mind is not focused on anything within our internal or external world, it can focus on whatever is beyond. Different people have different thoughts as to what that is. It could be a diety, the universe itself, or nothingness. Whatever it is that each of us would like to reach, this is where the mind gets empty enough to reach towards it. Stillness and silence are in short supply in this world. Imagine if we would all stop shouting so much and focus inward to fix things.

Limb #8-Samadhi

Samadhi is bliss or enlightenment. This is the most mysterious of the limbs, simply because it is beyond ourselves and our world. Some people never reach this limb. Some report to reaching it only once. Some believe it is not possible to actually reach it on this side of eternity. Some reach it on a daily basis. It is best described as a state of oneness. This means we are in the presence of our deity, whatever that may be for each of us. It means our mind is so open, that the highest power can reach us. I don't know what else to say about this one, because I have never even gotten close to it and am not in the position to claim “expert”.

Each of these limbs builds on the one before it. Most people, myself included, start with the asanas, or poses, of the third limb of yoga. Some never go anywhere else on this proverbial tree. Some of us, again...me, go backwards and then go forward. Most of the limbs of yoga are internal work because the only thing any of us actually have any control over is ourselves.

My hope is that, even with such a small introduction to what the philosophy called yoga really is, you can see how much of a difference it would make in not only your own world, but the whole world! This philosophy has gotten me through the worst life had to offer and has continued to give in my own life. This doesn't mean that life doesn't still suck sometimes, but my mind and body are healthier and can handle it all better.

More in depth looks into each of these limbs, and branches, will be coming in the future. Which one looks most interesting to you?